It is reason to be jolly

One, two, three, four ... seventeen. So we keep adding to our large collection of regional first-class cricket trophies.

It's now history that Barbados dug deep into their reserves against Trinidad and Tobago two days ago to record a fighting six-wicket victory and regain the Busta Cup.

But, were we really the best team on show?, some are bound to ask.

They will do so on the evidence of some uninspiring cricket Barbados displayed during the early part of the season.

There is also the staggering statistic that Barbados conceded first innings lead in five of their seven home matches.

Yet, they were able to win the cup.

It was somewhat of a dead-heat and the rule book was needed to determine the winners.

"What Barbados did was exactly what was required by the people who set out the competition [rules]," Barbados coach Hendy Springer conceded.

Both Barbados and Guyana accumulated 57 points from their seven matches, but the title went to Barbados on the strength of their four victories against three by Guyana.

Requirement

"We got the most points at the end and we won. That is what the competition required. Now I guess it is up to what the Barbados team management requires - for people to dig in, for people to know their shortcomings because they must even analyse winning," Springer added.

The coach, therefore is dismissing the popular notion that it doesn't matter how you win, but once you win.

"Sometimes we are of the opinion that once we win, there is nothing to look at, there is nothing to correct, but I've got a different opinion," Springer said.

"We've won, but sometime this week we'll sit down and say, How did we win?

"Could we have won better? It's not only about winning, but how you win."

On the face of it, the statistics of Barbados' players are nothing much to shout about, especially among the batsmen.

In the seven matches, no Barbadian managed 400 runs or averaged 40 per innings. There were just the two centuries - one each from Roland Holder and Ian Bradshaw.

But, to their credit, when it did matter most, Barbados delivered.

Remember that remarkable win against the Leeward Islands in Nevis when Ryan Hinds' 15-wicket match-haul undermined the hosts' batting in a match that seemed headed for a draw once rain wiped away the first session on the last day.

And, Monday's run-chase against Trinidad and Tobago required plenty of guts and determination in the face of a wearing pitch and a challenging target of 279.

The boys surely deserve some credit.

They will get even more if they can add the Busta International Shield title to complete a double under the new format that was created to accommodate the inclusion of the England "A" team.

The first stage of that conquest begins this weekend when Barbados oppose dethroned cup champions Jamaica in a semifinal clash at Kensington Oval.

"It doesn't matter to me whom we play. We've still got to play some hard, positive cricket," coach Springer said. "Barbados is a team which is accustomed to winning, which is always a good habit but we've got to play, positive, intelligent cricket.

"That's what the manager always stresses at team meetings."

We'll be watching.